Today’s supply chains are laden with inefficiencies, as most companies rely on antiquated practices to oversee and manage how goods get from place to place. The supply chain is delicate — even one disruption among suppliers, buyers, and logistics providers can have a trickle-down effect that causes waste, time loss, and increased carbon emissions. With…
The computer and electronics industry fueled U.S. manufacturing expansion in June but continues to struggle with shortages, price hikes and logistics bottlenecks, procurement managers told the Institute for Supply Management (ISM). Components are by far the biggest challenge, one buyer said, with lead times going from 16 weeks to 52-plus weeks. “Processors are a critical…
Executives remain optimistic about the global economy at the close of Q2, but not every region is benefiting equally from Covid-19 vaccination rates and re-opened businesses. IPC has raised its outlook for the United States, Europe, Mexico, Australia and Taiwan but notes Japan, India, Indonesia and Turkey continue to struggle. A recent McKinsey survey likewise…
Where does a supply chain firm fit into Siemens AG’s portfolio? Supplyframe, which Siemens acquired in May, will be integrated into Siemens’ Digital Industries unit and become part of its software-as-a-service (SaaS) offering. In its 18 years in business, Supplyframe has evolved from a components aggregator to a “design-to-source” intelligence (DSI) firm. Its DSI platform…
Business stakeholders often overlook sourcing and procurement departments, viewing them as tactical purchasing and contract administrators or even as barriers to the buying process. The pandemic gave procurement an opportunity to prove its value, as businesses relied on cost savings and critical supplies such as PPE-related goods and services to stay afloat and keep employees…
Purchasing and supply executives expect manufacturing growth will continue for the rest of 2021 with several metrics – capacity, capital expenditures and revenue – exceeding forecasts of late 2020. There is hope that the corner has been turned on the coronavirus pandemic, according to the Institute for Supply Management, and both the U.S. manufacturing and…
“Digitization” is, like “resilience,” the new mantra for the supply chain. Digital applications range from automated paperwork to complex networks that provide end-to-end visibility of global supply and manufacturing operations. Digitized systems work across geographies and products to provide real-time data on inventory, delays, disruptions and resolutions to manufacturing sites and supply-chain partners. Interconnected supply…
When the Covid-19 pandemic hit, it disrupted global supply chains which forced organizations around the world to scramble to react. While there are many lessons learned from the pandemic, especially as we are starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel, it was clear early on that some organizations were better equipped…
The quarterly total revenue of the NAND Flash industry came to US$14.1 billion in 4Q20, showing a quarter over quarter (QoQ) drop of 2.9 percent, according to TrendForce’s latest investigations. The total bit shipments of the NAND Flash industry in 4Q20 registered a QoQ increase of nearly 9 percent. This gain for the most part…
Customer experience matters more than ever because today’s consumers expect greater responsiveness in their daily lives. A much-quoted study by experience management services firm Walker Information predicted that by the end of 2020, customer experience will have overtaken price and product as the key brand differentiator. This reality also is reflected in expectations in the…